• Echidnas mate between May and September. Mothers venture up to 3km a day for food and only return to feed their puggles (baby, which they may have left in a den or leaf litter) every 5-10 days for up to two hours. It is extremely important not to relocate echidnas. If you think it’s a male and it’s OK to move it think again. Even experts struggle to sex these spiky beasts.
  • Fledgling baby birds are now about, including butcher birds, noisy mynas, kookaburras and seagulls. Most people don’t realise that baby birds come out of the nest unable to fly. Their breast muscle is not developed enough for upward flight but usually is good enough to get them to the ground (albeit somewhat clumsily). They then spend the next two weeks on the ground whilst mum and dad feed and defend them. This time is crucial to a bird’s development as it is when they learn the survival skills from their parents. Fledglings are often unnecessarily rescued as people fear predation from cats and dogs.
  • Micro bat pups come into care. These small creatures are about an inch long as pups and need specialist care. Do not handle with bare hands as some bats carry the lyssavirus, a close relation of the rabies virus.